Looking for a delicious dinner that’s much healthier than it seems? Look no further than these vegan meatball subs! How are they vegan you ask? The meatballs are made from black beans and rice along with some other tasty and healthy ingredients. Plus, not only are they vegan, they’re also gluten free too. Pair these subs with some baked or air fryer french fries and your taste buds will be singing!
Let’s Meal Prep!
Although we had these for dinner, these subs are definitely meal prep friendly! One recipe for the meatballs makes 18 of them, so you can get six hearty servings of subs out of them. If you choose to meal prep them, I would hold off on heating the sub in the oven until you’re ready to eat it. I’m sure these would taste delicious cold too, but there’s just something so much better about having a toasted bun and melty cheese.
What Equipment Do I Need?
- 2 Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat
- Mixing Bowl
- Potato Masher or Large Fork
- Can Opener
Ingredients
Meatballs
- Flax Seed Meal
- Water
- Canned Black Beans
- Yellow Onion
- Minced Garlic
- Italian Seasoning
- Paprika
- Gluten Free Breadcrumbs – Instead of buying the more expensive gluten free breadcrumbs, I bought gluten free crackers and ground them in my blender.
- Cooked Rice
- Walnuts
- Nutritional Yeast
Subs
- Gluten/Dairy Free Hot Dog Buns or Sub Rolls – I used the Schär brand.
- No Salt/Sugar Added Marinara Sauce
- Shredded Vegan Mozzarella – I used the Violife brand.
Substitutions
- Minced Garlic – Garlic cloves or garlic powder are also options.
- Cooked Rice – Really any kind works! You can also try using quinoa.
- Walnuts – Cashews would work in this recipe as well.
- Seasonings – You’re welcome to use fresh herbs instead or add in other seasonings to your tastes.
Recipe
Homemade Vegan Meatball Subs
Ingredients
Vegan Meatballs
- 1/4 cup flax seed meal
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups canned black beans (about one can)
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 cup gluten free breadcrumbs (I just took some gluten free crackers and ground them up in my blender)
- 1 1/2 cups gluten free cooked rice
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
Subs
- 6 gluten/dairy free hot dog buns or sub rolls
- 1 1/2 cups no sugar added marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded vegan mozzarella (I used the Violife brand)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
- Combine the water and flax seed meal in a small bowl. Stir and let sit for 15 minutes.
- While the flax mixture is sitting, finely dice your onion and grind up your walnuts in a blender or food processor until they are slightly larger than breadcrumbs.
- Drain and rinse your black beans. Then, add them to a medium or large mixing bowl.
- Mash the black beans with a potato masher or fork and add the remaining meatball ingredients including the flax mixture once it’s sat for long enough. Mix well.
- Form the mixture into 18 meatballs and set them onto the baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While the meatballs cook, set out a second baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Set the gluten free rolls or hot dog buns on this.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, put three on each bun. Add 1/4 cup marinara and 1/4 cup vegan mozzarella shreds on top of each. Broil in the oven on low for 2 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bun is browned.
- Serve warm!
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